May 16, 2014

Philadelphia City Planning Commission

1515 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA. 19102
Re: Letter of Recommendation for Kristen McEntee
To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing this letter of recommendation for Kristen McEntee at the conclusion of
her internship with the *Citizens Planning Institute this spring. Kristen received
academic credit for this internship experience, required for Temple Universitys
bachelor program in Community and Regional Planning.
Kristen worked closely with me in developing a weekly list of tasks required to
address the CPI timeline and course schedule. During the spring course applications
phase, her primary support was in processing new and returning student
applications, assisting with participant selections, and updating databases. Kristen
also figured out how to execute valuable website tools that greatly enhanced the
application process. She also reviewed all previous in-house research on citizens
planning academy models, updated it, and synthesized it into a valuable summary
document we can provide to potential funders.
Once classes were underway, Kristen was responsible for assembling weekly course
material packets and general classroom support: greeting students; producing video
recordings of class sessions and follow-up with student requests. She also wrote
case studies of selected CPI graduates for the Grads in Action page of the CPI
website.
Professional Performance:
Of the performance metrics used at the Planning Commission to evaluate staff, the
following are appropriate to apply to this internship position.
Dependability: I appreciated Kristens eagerness and enthusiasm to learn. She was
very diligent in completing assignments and checking in with me to make the best
use of her time. Much of Kristens time was spent preparing for and being present for
CPI class sessions. Once our logistics routine was in place, I could depend on Kristen
to make sure every box was checked allowing me to focus on classroom facilitation
and spending more one-on-one time with faculty and students.
Initiative: Taking the initiative is a professional skill that many interns must learn.
Oftentimes, research is required to understand the nature of the problem being
addressed, in order to anticipate needs. Kristen came to this internship position fully
armed with an understanding of the CPI and was proactive in getting things done.
Quality of Work: Kristen takes personal pride in her work and is conscientious
about completing an assignment correctly, no matter what it takes.

People Skills: Kristen was comfortable with greeting students and getting to know
them, a valuable asset in any educational environment. Her demeanor is congenial,
respectful, and confident, making her an asset in the teamwork structure common in
the planning profession.
Overall, Kristen demonstrated other broad based skills that will serve her well in
future professional environmentsa high level of attention to detail, intellectual
curiosity, an ability to think critically and synthesize information, and good writing
skills.
Sincerely,

Donna J. Carney, AIA

Director, Citizens Planning Institute

*The Citizens Planning Institute (CPI) has been offering bi-annual

classes since 2010 to educate Philadelphians about city planning and

encourage residents to learn more about creating a more livable,
green, and sustainable Philadelphia.
Successful graduates completing the 15 required hours of classes
receive a Certificate of Completion as a Citizen Planner. To date, the
245 graduates represent 17 of the 18 planning districts of the city.
The CPI is the education component of Philadelphias Integrated
Planning & Zoning Process, which was recognized with a 2013
National Planning Excellence Award for a Best Practice from the
American Planning Association.